Banana-crate.



No. 7|o,353. Patented sep-1. so, |902.v c. A. noun & c. s. sHousE.

BANANA CRATE.

\App1icaton filed May 22V, 1902.)

2 ,Shahets-Shee L (No Model.)

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vNo. 7|0,353.' APatented septqsn, i902. c. A. noun & c..B. smlusra.l BANANA cnArE.

`(Applcmzion filed May 22, 1902.) (liu Model.) l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

UNITED v STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. DOUD AND CHARLES B. SHOUSE, OF LA CROSSE, VISCONSIN, ASSIGNORS TO 1WESTERN BANANA CRATE MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

or LA GROSSE, WISCONSIN.

BANANA-CRATE.

SECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 710,353, dated September 30, 190.2.

Application filed May 22, 1902. Serial No. 108,583. (No model.)

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES A. DOUD and CHARLESB. SHoUsE, citizens of the United States, residing at La Crosse, in the county ot' La Crosse and State of Wisconsin, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Crates; and we declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the invention, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference, marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a side elevation of the crate. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of the crate with top and bottom of the lining shown unfolded. Fig. 3 is a detail cross-section of the connection of the top of the lining to the body thereof. Fig. et is a similar viewshowing the connection of the bottom of the lining to the body thereof. Fig. 5 is a plan of the blank for the lining with top and bottom in one piece with the body thereof.

This invention has relation to banana-shipping crates, and has for its object the pro-` vision of a simple and efficient cushioned crate in which the delicate bananas will be prevented from coming into contact with the wooden incasement, and so will not become bruised, as is commonly the case with crates now in use.

XVith this object in View the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of'parts, all as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the letter A designates the wooden framework of the crate, of cylindrical character and composed of the outer longitudinal bars or slats d and the inner hoops b, there being one such hoopat top and bottom of the crate and two or more intermediate hoops.

Connecting the uppermost hoop b and the lower intermediate hoop is the flexible lining B, of commonv sackcloth or any suitable flexible material, such lining having an inward taper or growing smaller in diameter toward the central portion thereof from top and bottom of the lining, the sides of the lining thus receding inwardly from its attachment-hoops and from the side bars of the crate. This inward taper of the liningis preferably sharp at top and bottom thereof, leaving the intermediate portion of cylindrical character and lying` equally spaced from the sides of the crate, and is accomplished by cutting the pattern for the lining in two sections with corner extensions, as shown at B', and producing the desired taper when the parts are sewed together.

In inserting the lining in place Vit is tightly stretched, so that all parts thereof will stand away from the sides of the crate or be of self-supporting character. The upper intermediate hoop b acts as a guard for the lining, which is spaced therefrom on all sides.

Top and bottom C and D of the lining may be of one piece of material with the lining proper, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5 of the drawings, or, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, separate pieces may be employed for this purpose. l

The bottoni is designed to be opened and gathered and strongly tied for the purpose of removal of any objectionable accumulation, such as banana-pulp, which rots the material.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a fruit-crate, the upper and lower hoops, and the flexible lining secured to said hoops at its upper and lower portions, tightly stretched and tapering from above and below toward the center, substantially as specilied.

2. In a fruit-crate, the incasement and the double taperinglining secured at top and bottom to said incasement, and tightly stretched to escape the sides of the incasement, substantially as specified.

3. In a fruit-crate, the circular-hoop incasement, having the upper and lower interior hoops, a flexible eXteriorly-concave lining secured at its upper and lower portions to said hoops, and stretchedltightly there between to escape the sides of the incasement, substantially as specified.

4. In a fruit-crate, the incasement having upper vand lower hoops, and the flexible lining having upper and lo'wer portions wrapped ICO around said hoops, and extending beyond the same to form a. cover and bottom of one piece of material with the lining proper, substantially as specified.

5. In a. fruit-crate, the incasement having upper and lower hoops, and the exible 1ining having upper and lower portions Wrapped around said hoops, and extending beyond the same to form an open cover adapted in closing Io to be gathered and tied, and an open bottom adapted in closing to be gathered exteriorly of the liningr and tied, substantially as specifled.

In testimony whereof We aftiX our signatures in presence of 4two Witnesses.

CHARLES A. DOUD. Y CHARLES B. SHOUSE. Witnesses:

A. B. MoLL, M., A. LOMBARD. 

